Hot holiday toys sure to make your kid's list
From Cabbage Patch dolls to Zhu Zhu Pets, every year there is one toy that becomes the must-have item on every parent's shopping list -- and 2011 is no exception.
On "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," toy and parenting expert Shannon Eis, of Time to Play magazine, shared the hottest gifts kids will be begging for this holiday season.
Pictures: Holiday Gift Guide 2011
Lazer Stunt Chaser
Thinkway Toys
Ages 4+
$39.99
The Lazer Stunt Chaser is a light-controlled remote control stunt vehicle. The remote emits a light (not a real laser), and the car chases after the light. The car performs stunts and is always "right side up," thanks to its two-sided design. There is a performance range of 40 feet and comes with a stunt ramp for performing different tricks and a built-in rechargeable battery with charger.
"Angry Birds" Knock on Wood Game
Mattel
Ages 5+
$14.99
The popular online game "Angry Birds" is now an offline skill-and-action tabletop game. The pigs have stolen the birds' eggs, and the object is to destroy the structures where the pigs are hiding. But with Knock On Wood, one player draws a mission card and builds the structure shown. The mission card also lists what birds to use to shoot down the structure. Using the guidelines on the mission card, another player loads the required Angry Birds onto the launcher and catapults them to knock down structures and pigs and earn points. The first person to 1,000 points wins.
Monster High dolls
Mattel
Ages 6+
$12.00
The latest craze in fashion dolls, the Monster High crew are freaky and fabulous and feature lots of clever details that bring the characters to life. The big theme this holiday season is "Dead Tired", so we'll be showing dolls in their pajamas and with their bed sets, which include a coffin that doubles as a jewelry box.
Nerf Vortex Nitron
Hasbro
Ages 8+
$39.99
The newest blaster experience from Nerf, Vortex offers the latest in blaster technology and performance. It shoots plastic discs and uses something Hasbro calls XLR Technology, or extra long-range discs. The version we'll show is the Nitron - it's a fully automatic clip-fed disc blaster. It features a removable clip that can hold up to 20 discs, an electronic targeting scope accessory, and a front handle to steady shots.
FyrFlyz
i-Star Entertainment
Ages 8+
$10.00
A new take on a classic yo-yo-like toy. Each precision balanced instrument is designed to spin on its axis. Simply by swinging the connected two strings and pulling to apply tension or letting go to allow slack, kids create a continuous movement-figure eights, rings, etc. Turn off the lights or take it out in the dark, and the multi-color LED lights turn the movement into a light show.
XiaXia
Cepia
Ages 4+
$12.99
Xia Xia (pronounced "sha sha") are colorful and collectible robotic hermit crabs from the makers of the popular Zhu Zhu Pets. There are four different hermit crab characters in the first collection, each has an interchangeable shell that pops right off and a little buddy that rides inside or on top of the shell. Twelve collectible shells are sold separately. We'll have a few crabs and a play set.
Air Swimmer
William Mark Corporation
Ages 8+
$49.99
The Animal Planet Air Swimmers Clown Fish or Shark is a new take on R/C play. This is a helium balloon that is more than four feet long. Once you get it assembled, you fly it through the air, controlling it using the remote control, and it moves like it's swimming. There is a ballast on the bottom of the balloon that can be controlled by the remote to move the fish up or down and two directional controls that move the fish's tail.